Media & Press Releases

Map Ives Appointed National Rhino Coordinator for Botswana

Apr 29, 2014 | Wilderness Safaris

April 2014 – Wilderness Safaris is proud to announce that long time company stalwart, the well-known and respected Map Ives, was on Friday 25 April announced as Botswana’s National Rhino Coordinator by the country’s Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama.

This huge privilege recognises Map’s enormous depth of experience and levels of commitment to Botswana’s rhino populations. Not only is he a founder and former chair of the Botswana Rhino Management Committee, he was also active in the development of the Okavango Delta Management Plan and is the current chair of the Moremi Game Reserve Management Committee.

Speaking in Maun, Map proudly extolled the virtues of the country’s conservation community as “leading the way in public/private partnerships for conservation with this integration being vital to any efforts that wish to succeed in Africa. Moreover, there is a national political leadership that not only recognises the importance of the private sector in conservation but is also passionate about it themselves. As a result, the various components for local and international conservation follow; for example, security on the ground (Botswana Defence Force; Anti-Poaching Unit; Central Intelligence) and high-level commitments at international forums like the recent London Conference. Combine this with the commitment of the private sector and you have really rich conditions for rhino and other wildlife conservation.”

While continuing his day-to-day employment with Wilderness Safaris in Maun, Map will be working extremely closely with the DWNP, particularly its research division, as well as liaising with the Botswana Rhino Management Committee. In addition he will be acting in a secretariat role, maintaining the national database and representing Botswana on the Southern African Development Community Rhino Management Group (SADC RMG) and the IUCN’s African Rhino Specialist Group.

“We’d like to extend our congratulations and good wishes to Map, and every success in his continuing efforts to secure a thriving future for Botswana’s black and white rhino”, said Wilderness CEO, Keith Vincent.